Long reach cable cutting tool including dual action hydraulic piston assembly and releasable connections

Abstract

A long reach cable cutting tool includes a handle, a motor electrically connectable to a battery, a trigger electrically connected to the motor to provide power from the battery to the motor when the trigger is activated, a pump connected to the motor, the pump is activated to displace a first fluid, a hydraulic actuating system connected to the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic actuating system is movable by the displacement of the first fluid to displace a second fluid, a pole having a first end and a second end, the pole connected to the handle at the first end, and a tool head connected to the pole at the second end, the tool head including a tool head hydraulic actuator hydraulically connected to the hydraulic actuating system, the tool head hydraulic actuator is movable by the displacement of the second fluid to cause relative movement of the actuator with respect to the tool head.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A long reach cable cutting tool, comprising:
 a handle; 
 a motor positioned within the handle and electrically connectable to a battery; 
 a trigger positioned on the handle and electrically connected to the motor to provide power from the battery to the motor when the trigger is activated; 
 a pump positioned within the handle and connected to the motor, the pump being activated to displace a first fluid; 
 a dual action hydraulic piston assembly positioned within the handle and connected to the pump, the dual action hydraulic piston assembly being moveable by the displacement of the first fluid to displace a second fluid; 
 a pole having a first end and a second end, the pole connected to the handle at the first end; and 
 a tool head connected to the pole at the second end, the tool head including a tool head hydraulic actuator hydraulically connected to the dual action hydraulic piston assembly, the tool head hydraulic actuator is moveable by the displacement of the second fluid to actuate the tool head, 
 wherein the dual action hydraulic piston assembly comprises a cylinder having first and second inlet ports on a first end and an outlet port on a second end, a conduit fixed to and extending into the cylinder and connected to the first inlet port, an inner ram having an inner cavity slidably mated with an outer surface of the conduit, and an outer ram having an inner surface slidably mated with an outer surface of the inner ram and an outer surface slidably mated with an inner surface of the cylinder, 
 wherein, in a fully retracted state, a proximate end of the inner ram and a proximate end of the outer ram are positioned adjacent to the first end of the cylinder, and a distal end of the inner ram and a distal end of the outer ram are positioned a distance from the second end of the cylinder defining a second fluid space, 
 wherein the inner ram and outer ram are moveable by the first fluid being displaced into the inner cavity via the conduit to provide displacement through the outlet port of the second fluid contained in the second fluid space at a first flow rate and a first pressure, and 
 wherein the outer ram is moveable by the first fluid being displaced via the second inlet port, into a first fluid space between the first end of the cylinder and the proximate ends of the inner and outer rams, to provide displacement through the outlet port of the second fluid contained in the second fluid space at a second flow rate less than the first flow rate and a second pressure greater than the first pressure. 
 
     
     
       2. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the battery is mechanically connectable to the handle. 
     
     
       3. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the inner ram and the outer ram are moveable, by the first fluid being displaced into the inner cavity via the conduit, at a first advance rate of at least 1 in/s, and the outer ram is moveable, by the first fluid displaced into the first fluid space via the second inlet port, at a second advance rate of at least 0.2 in/s. 
     
     
       4. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the outer ram is moveable, by the first fluid displaced into the first fluid space via the second inlet port, at a second advance rate that is at least three times that of a first advance rate that the inner ram and the outer ram are moveable by the first fluid displaced into the inner cavity via the conduit. 
     
     
       5. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the dual action hydraulic piston assembly further comprises a spring circumscribing the outer surface of the inner ram, the spring acting between the inner ram and the outer ram, the spring having a first end adjacent to the distal end of the outer ram and a second end adjacent to the distal end of the inner ram. 
     
     
       6. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool head is one of a crimper or a cutter. 
     
     
       7. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is connected to the pole via a releasable connector, the releasable connector comprising:
 the pole defining a plurality of separated arcuate members extending from the first end of the pole, each arcuate member defining a channel extending across an inner surface of a respective arcuate member; 
 a collar having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the handle, the collar including a ridge positioned circumferentially around the collar and a distance from the second end of the collar, wherein said channel mates with said ridge when the pole is engaged onto the collar; 
 a collet slidably positionable about the pole in proximity to the channel; and 
 a retaining nut slidably positionable about the pole and collet, and connectable with the collar. 
 
     
     
       8. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the tool head is connected to the pole via a releasable connector, the releasable connector comprising:
 the pole defining a plurality of separated arcuate members extending from the second end of the pole, each arcuate member defining a channel extending across an inner surface of a respective arcuate member; 
 a collar having a first end and a second end, the first end attached to the tool head, the collar including a ridge positioned circumferentially around the collar and a distance from the second end of the collar, wherein said channel mates with said ridge when the pole is engaged onto the collar; 
 a collet slidably positionable about the pole in proximity to the channel; and 
 a retaining nut slidably positionable about the pole and collet, and connectable with the collar. 
 
     
     
       9. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 1 , wherein the pole is made from a non-conductive material and includes a portion filled with a foam material. 
     
     
       10. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 1 , the tool head having a housing, a fixed distal cutting portion, a movable proximal cutting portion, a catch fastened adjacent to the distal cutting portion, and a retainer fastened between the catch and the housing. 
     
     
       11. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 1 , further comprising a second handle mounted on the pole between the first end and the second end. 
     
     
       12. A long reach cable cutting tool, comprising:
 a handle including a trigger; 
 a pump activated by the trigger to displace a first fluid; and 
 a dual action hydraulic piston assembly within the handle and hydraulically connected to the pump, the dual action hydraulic piston assembly being moveable by the displacement of the first fluid to displace a second fluid; 
 a tool head connected to the handle via a pole and actuated in response to the displacement of the second fluid; 
 wherein the dual action hydraulic piston assembly includes a cylinder having first and second inlet ports on a first end and an outlet port on a second end, a conduit connected to the first inlet port and extending into the cylinder, an inner ram slidable along an outer surface of the conduit, and an outer ram slidable between an outer surface of the inner ram and an inner surface of the cylinder, 
 wherein the inner ram and outer ram and configured to move together toward the second end of the cylinder, in response to the first fluid being displaced via the first inlet port into the conduit, to displace the second fluid through the outlet port at a first flow rate, 
 wherein the outer ram is configured to move toward the second end of the cylinder, in response to the first fluid being displaced via the second inlet port, to displace the second fluid through the outlet port at a second flow rate less than the first flow rate. 
 
     
     
       13. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 12 , wherein the inner ram and outer ram moving together toward the second end of the cylinder, in response to the first fluid being displaced via the first inlet port into the conduit, displace the second fluid through the outlet port at a first pressure, and the outer ram moving toward the second end of the cylinder, in response to the first fluid being displaced via the second inlet port, displaces the second fluid through the outlet port at second pressure greater than the first pressure. 
     
     
       14. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 12 , wherein the dual action hydraulic piston assembly is operable between a fully retracted state in which a proximate end of the inner ram and a proximate end of the outer ram are positioned adjacent to the first end of the cylinder, and a distal end of the inner ram and a distal end of the outer ram are positioned a distance from the second end of the cylinder defining a second fluid space, and a fully advanced state in which the distal end of the inner ram and the distal end of the outer ram are adjacent to the second end of the cylinder. 
     
     
       15. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 12 , wherein the inner ram and the outer ram are moveable together, by the first fluid being displaced via the first inlet port into the conduit, at a first advance rate of at least 1 in/s, and the outer ram is moveable, by the first fluid being displaced via the second inlet port, at a second advance rate of at least 0.2 in/s. 
     
     
       16. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 12 , wherein the outer ram is moveable, by the first fluid being displaced via the second inlet port, at a second advance rate that is at least three times that of a first advance rate that the inner ram and the outer ram are moveable together by the first fluid being displaced via the first inlet port into the conduit. 
     
     
       17. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 12 , wherein the dual action hydraulic piston assembly further comprises a spring circumscribing the outer surface of the inner ram, the spring acting between the inner ram and the outer ram, the spring having a first end adjacent to a distal end of the outer ram and a second end adjacent to a distal end of the inner ram. 
     
     
       18. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 12 , wherein the tool head is one of a crimper or a cutter. 
     
     
       19. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 12 , wherein the handle is connected to the pole via a first releasable connector and the tool head is connected to the pole via a second releasable connector. 
     
     
       20. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 12 , the tool head having a housing, a fixed distal cutting portion, a movable proximal cutting portion, a catch fastened adjacent to the distal cutting portion, and a retainer fastened between the catch and the housing. 
     
     
       21. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 12 , wherein the inner ram has a recess than extends across a distal end of the inner ram configured to provide a fluid path for the second fluid to be displaced through the outlet port when the distal end of the inner ram is adjacent to the second end of the cylinder. 
     
     
       22. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 12 , further comprising a flange on a proximate end of the inner ram, the flange configured to engage into an inner recess in a proximate end of the outer ram to facilitate the inner ram and the outer ram moving together toward the second end of the cylinder in response to the first fluid being displaced via the first inlet port into the conduit. 
     
     
       23. The long reach cable cutting tool of  claim 12 , further comprising a motor configured to drive the pump and a battery for supplying power to the motor.